Who: Erin Shepherd and Liu Ying Where: Green Roof Treasures When: Jul 27 What: Liu Ying learns about photographs Status: Complete; Matchup
The creativity of mortals was a source of fascination for Liu Ying. She enjoyed their plays and their operas (although she had not yet attended any in the Valley of Madison), and she enjoyed browsing the trinkets they created. Only she did not know what they were for.
She had come into a shop, dressed in the men’s apparel of trousers and a simple shirt as she had seen many women do, and was exploring the shelves. On one, she found many frames with what appeared to the heads of smiling people inside. She tapped on one. “Hello? Are you all right?”
***
It was back to the grind for Erin now that they were back on dry land and she was honestly glad for it. The novelty of the cruise had worn off after a week and she found wasn’t enjoying it as much once they were just floating on the ocean with nowhere to go. Perhaps she was just more of a landlubber instead of a water baby. The time with Landon had been really nice, though. She wasn’t going to complain about that.
She thought nothing of it when the girl who dressed funny came in because she knew people who came from all over showed up and she figured this was one of those deals. Still, she kept an eye on her because that was her job and she had to see if she needed any help. When she saw the girl talk to the people in the frames, she laughed to herself.
“Those people aren’t real”
***
Liu Ying looked up at the voice, then back at the people in the frame. “Are they dolls?”
They were extremely life-like, for dolls. She wondered what they were for, and if they represented any lives. Was anyone real trapped anywhere because their likeness was trapped in a frame?
***
“They’re just a picture to fill the frame” Erin told her as she walked out from behind the counter. She didn’t anything until she got closer to her, reaching out for the frame as she talked. “See? There’s nothing that but paper” She told her as she took the back off of the frame and pulled the picture out to shower her, waving it around to show how filmy it was. “It’s sold like that then you take it out when you get home and put your own picture in”
***
Liu Ying’s expression cleared when the explanation came. “Oh! So it is like a painting. It is incredible, the likeness of the people.”
She peered at the other frames on the shelf. “All of them so lifelike! What an incredible artist who creates these.”
***
Erin shook her head. “It’s not like a painting at all. Those are real people. It’s a photograph” Maybe she knew that word more than a picture. Or maybe she wouldn’t get through this girl at all. It was probably the latter, she decided as she put the picture back into the frame and closed the back of it, setting it back on the shelf.
“Watch” She walked over to the counter and pulled out her phone. Taking a picture of a random item in the store, she walked back over to the girl and showed the picture to her. “This is a photograph”
***
Liu Ying regarded this ‘photograph’ with fascination. What an incredible likeness it was, and so quickly created!
“This world is full of wonders I have not ever dreamed of,” she admitted. “I fear my ignorance of this culture shows more often than I would like, despite my best efforts to learn of its offerings.”
***
“Where did you come from?” She wondered as she deleted the picture then put her phone away. She would easily end the conversation and walk away at that moment but she wasn’t going to. She decided to be more like her boyfriend at that moment and be nicer, ask questions. She could stand to be a little kinder and not so grumpy all the time.
***
“The Demon Realm,” Liu Ying replied easily. She did not go further into detail beyond that. The Great Chasm that she called her home would mean nothing to those not from her world, and the very word demon was often enough to change the course of the conversation. But Liu Ying took no shame from being Princess of the Demon Realm. Her people were often misunderstood, and she would not pretend to be anyone other than she was.
***
Erin raised an eyebrow at that. Well that was she’d never heard of before. “Sounds like a fun place” She commented, suddenly putting two and two together. She knew something smelled off about the girl when she first walked in but she couldn’t figure out why. “Now I know why you smell kind of off. I’m not used to smelling demons” She told her, having no problem revealing what she was.
***
Liu Ying paused and fought the urge to sniff her hands. She had not been aware demons had a particular odour. She did know those with sensitive energy could sense a demon spirit. Perhaps this young girl was similar in that way.
“What manner of talent do you have that allows you to smell a demon?”
***
“Werewolf. I have a nose for anything not human” She replied, tapping herself on the tip of the nose. Lowering her hand, she moved back over to the counter where she’d been before and took a seat on the stool that was there. “I think you’re the first demon I’ve ever met” She told her as she thought back to all of the supernaturals she’s met so far. Werewolves, vampires, witches, ghosts turned zombies, phoenix ... nope, never a demon.
***
“Is that so.” Liu Ying herself had encountered other demons in the short time she had been here, but perhaps they were not did not wish to reveal themselves as demons. If that was the case, she would not betray their secret.
“I met another werewolf,” she said instead. “She was a good fighter, for her age.”
***
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m been here for a few years, a lot of people have come and go” She replied with a shrug as she got settled on the stool, setting her phone on the counter. “Oh yeah? Who was that?” She wondered, assuming she probably knew her since she knew all of the werewolves there in one way or another.
***
“Her name is Kate Danvers,” Liu Ying said. She tipped her head in curiosity. “Do you know her?”
***
“Yeah I do. I’m familiar with everyone in the pack” She replied a nod of her head. “Her mother is actually dating my kind of dad” That made the like sisters, didn’t it? Erin had never thought about that before. Huh. Kate was alright. She wouldn’t mind having her as a sister. “I like to think I’m a good fighter too. I’ve been taking kickboxing classes for a long time”
***
Liu Ying did not know what this kickboxing was, but she could see a similar spirit in this young mortal werewolf as she had with Kate. Perhaps a small fight would not hurt them. It certainly was of no consequence for her.
“Then perhaps I can see your prowess one day,” she said with a smile. “But for now I should not disturb you any longer. I will see you soon, young werewolf.”
***
“I’m up for that” Erin replied with a nod. She loved a good spar with those who could handle her. It wasn’t much of a challenge when she was fighting humans and could take them down with one punch. “You should coe back in some other time and look around more” She told her with a wave as she watched her leave. She had made no sale but that was rlgiht. She would get her next time.